Docker Containers have become an essential element in modern, high-performance IT operations practices — particularly in the cloud computing era. This article defines what containers are and why they are important to your business whether you are responsible for just managing a single server or running IT operations at scale.

Docker Containers Background

IT operations are responsible for managing and maintaining efficient and reliable computing infrastructure that supports the range of computing tasks performed by a business. These tasks are facilitated through enterprise resource planning applications that support Human Resources, Finance, Customer Relationship Management, Project Management, Operations Management and Workflow, Logistics, Reporting and Analytics, and more. While these applications differ in function all share a common dependence on efficient, reliable, and responsive computing resources. These resources include operating system, processor, RAM, storage and networking elements. Historically, these individual elements were organized and managed as physical server units, then virtual machines with the advent of virtualization technology.

Virtual Machines improved overall computing resources and IT operations efficiency through increased sharing of physical hosts and host files and libraries. This reduction in physical servers and increased utilization of host files and libraries led to reduction in Capital and Operations Expenditure, and improvements in Developer and Customer Experience.

Containers extend the efficiency trajectory of Virtual machines by allowing apps to run in a dramatically simplified and light-weight environment compared to physical servers and virtual machines. Containers disassociate dedicated application dependencies from shareable OS elements. These shareable elements are abstracted and packaged as single-instance, shareable resources which further improve resource utilization.

Containers and Docker

Containers were introduced as an extension of the Linux Operating System in 2001. They are an evolution and formalization of namespace isolation and resource governance techniques used in pre-Linux Operating Systems such as Solaris Zones, Unix chroot and BSD Jails. The Docker Containers specification presented a common packaging model, toolset and deployment model that dramatically simplified containerization and application deployment on Linux hosts. The specification was realized as Docker images that contained shared host and VM files and libraries. This evolution led to further improvement in computing resource utilization — maximizing resource sharing by eliminating VM-related overhead — and significant improvement in IT operations and applications management. The result is further improvement in Capital Expenditure, Operations Expenditure and Customer Experience.

The benefits of Docker Containers were introduced to Windows hosting environments with Windows Server 2016. To support this initiative, Microsoft established a partnership with Docker to extend the Docker API and toolset to support containers operating on Windows Server hosts. The Microsoft extensions permits the same Docker client to manage both Linux and Windows Server containers — extending Docker utility to Windows Server while preserving the DevOps efficiencies and user experience made possible by Docker. This initiative by Microsoft created a true win-win scenario for all parties.

Why Docker Containers are Important

Docker Containers are important for small and large IT operations. To understand this, let’s review the DevOps benefits of Docker-based containers:

Application performance improvements. This is enabled through the sharing a single Operating System kernel across multiple containers. The result is more efficient and granular application packaging which en fast container startup and because the startup package is smaller and OS components are excluded from the container startup process.

Faster Provisioning. Containers are dramatically faster to provision because they are significantly lighter-weight to build and define versus Virtual Machine images, and they are provisioned via software on pre-provisioned infrastructure.

Efficient Resource Utilization. Containers are also more efficient at resource utilization than Virtual Machines with siloed OSs and OS-based resources.

Simple, high availability. This is because containers canrun on different underlying hardware. If one host goes down, traffic can be re-routed from the Edge to live application containers running elsewhere.

Smooth scaling. Containers enable smooth scaling without downtime or architectural changes. Scaling is difficult with VM-centric hosting which requires reboots, and often rearchitecting, to resize.

These are direct benefits if you are responsible for managing a large IT operation. You and your DevOps team can experience them in your day to day operations. However, these benefits also apply if you are responsible for administering a single server or even a single website. This is because best of breed hosting providers such as Azure or AWS (a) have platform economics that produce lower costs for comparable, small-to-large scale server deployments, and (b) have largely adopted containers — so by utilizing one of them you indirectly experience these benefits.

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]]>Machine Learning – What Business Leaders Need to Knowhttps://www.aezion.com/2019/02/16/machine-learning-business-leaders/
Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:28:36 +0000https://www.aezion.com/?p=51880Machine Learning has garnered a significant share of recent press coverage in both tech and main street media. It is inextricably intertwined with, and central to, discussion and dialogue on topics ranging from big data in general to Facebook’s threat to privacy, Boston Dynamics creepy robotics, and Google’s exploitation of artificial intelligence for good and ill. As such, it is easy to view machine learning as either sinister or magical — neither of which is true. For today’s business leader, an objective and actionable understanding of machine learning is as important as an actionable understanding of finance and financial management.

Introduction

Machine Learning has garnered a significant share of recent press coverage in both tech and main street media. It is inextricably intertwined with, and central to, discussion and dialogue on topics ranging from big data in general to Facebook’s threat to privacy, Boston Dynamics creepy robotics, and Google’s exploitation of artificial intelligence for good and ill. As such, it is easy to view machine learning as either sinister or magical — neither of which is true. For today’s business leader, an objective and actionable understanding of machine learning is as important as an actionable understanding of finance and financial management.

In this article we provide an overview of machine learning for business leaders: what it is and how to think about its applicability to your business.

What machine learning is

Machine learning (ML) is a data-driven system development paradigm. ML systems leverage data models, data analysis and feedback to define and refine algorithms to improve model accuracy and system results.

ML systems work by analyzing data to detect patterns or by applying predefined rules to:

Categorize or catalog like objects

Predict likely outcomes or actions based on identified patterns

Identify unknown patterns and relationships

Detect anomalous or unexpected behaviors

Different algorithms learn in different ways. But in general, as new data are provided to the ML system the system “learns” and the algorithm’s performance improves over time.

Problems suited to machine learning

ML, like other software development paradigms is not one-size-fits-all — some approaches are better suited to particular classes of problems and not suitable for others.

Machine learning is particularly suited to problems where:

Logical rules are unavailable or insufficient to describe the environment — but actionable rules can be intuited

Next actions are varied and the best action depends on conditions that cannot be identified in advance

Understanding why an outcome is suggested is not as important as accuracy of the outcome

The data is problematic for traditional analytic methods

Now that you know what machine learning is and how to identify problems that lends themselves to ML solutions, let’s explore the steps to define and conduct an ML project.

How to plan and execute a machine learning project

Well executed ML systems follow these recommended steps:

Define Problem

Prepare Data

Evaluate Algorithms

Improve Results

Present Results

These steps, while seemingly generic and common to traditional software system development, require the perspective and attention gained from experience with ML system development.

The best way to approach machine learning system development is to work through an ML project end-to-end and cover the key steps with an experienced guide or team. Every step, from loading data, summarizing data, evaluating algorithms, making initial predictions, refining and presenting results is improved by experience — much like an ML system.

Accordingly, your first project should be viewed as a learning process to understand the mechanics of machine learning, calibrate your expectations and provide a perspective for setting expectations, interpreting and presenting results from dynamic, learning systems. After tackling your first project with expert assistance you will be prepared to spot and sponsor the next, more consequential machine learning opportunity.

Custom software development project management can mean the difference between success and failure of a custom software development project. Software development projects are complex and multi-faceted, represent a major investment in both time and money and can be fraught with problems if not managed properly. Finding a competent custom software development partner is only one part of the equation. You must also have a clear vision, strong management, and a well thought out plan.

Why Custom Software Development Project Management?

Custom software development project management starts with detailed planning in advance to ensure that you get the all the features that your business needs. It will also help prevent costly scope creep. Here are the key steps that will help ensure that your custom software is delivered on time, and to budget.

Define Your Goals

Before you get into the detailed design of the software, define your high-level goals. For example, these might include streamlining current processes, automating time consuming manual tasks, or increasing productivity. Once you have defined your top-level goals, identify quantifiable metrics that you can use to measure the success of the project in respect of these goals.

Appoint a Project Manager

Custom software development project management is a team efforts. Many people within your organization may have input into the project. While getting input from all levels of the organization will benefit the project, you will need one final decision maker. Appoint a single senior member of the team to manage the project. Too many decision makers can lead to confusion and a lack of direction.

Map Your Business Processes

Talk to key members of your team about the day to day process that are currently employed. Document how tasks are currently completed and draw up flow-diagrams of the processes. In a large organization, you may need to limit the number of employees that you involve in this process. Remember, though, if you only talk to senior managers, you may not learn about bottlenecks that occur at lower levels of the organization.

Be Aware of Scope Creep

Be mindful of scope creep from the outset of the project. It can occur from the early planning stages, right the way through the development cycle. Focus on the key objectives of the project and stay within the boundaries of the original concept. Scope creep is the most common cause of custom software development projects running over budget and being delivered late. professional, custom software project management will ensure that you get this and other critical factors right.

Prioritize Your “Must haves” and “Nice to Haves”

Just because it is possible, doesn’t mean that it should be added to the scope of the project. When you are defining the required functionality for custom software, prioritize features into “must haves” and “nice to haves”. The “must have” features will be those that will accomplish your original goals. The “nice to haves” are optional features that would be useful but are not essential to a successful outcome of the project.

Don’t Assume That Your Software Development Partner Knows Your Business

You know your business much better than your software development partner does. Even if a software development company has developed similar applications before, don’t assume that they know things like industry specific terminology, regulations and laws. Define your requirements clearly and explain ambiguous terms. A simple misunderstanding can be very costly in a custom software development project. This is a critical step in successful custom software development project management.

Define Staged Deliverables

Plan to have your custom software solution delivered in stages. This will allow you to complete your own testing of each stage and give your feedback. This will also allow the software developers to concentrate on specific aspects of functionality. When providing feedback, keep in mind your “must haves” and “nice to haves”. Too many unnecessary software change requests could delay the completion of the project.

Treat Your Developer as a Member of the Team

The relationship between a client and a software developer is different from the traditional supplier/customer relationship. The relationship will work much better if you view your developer as a team member. You will both have deadlines to meet if the project is going to be completed to plan. You will need honest and transparent two-way communication if you are going to achieve your goals.

Understand That Programming is Complex

Good software developers make programming look easy. You say what you want, and they deliver it. Remember, though, that a simple change that you ask for may take hours of work to complete. If you do ask for changes in the scope the project, however small, make sure that your developer tells you what the impact will be in both timescale and cost. Internally, you will need change request management to ensure that your project manager is the only person who can approve software change requests.

Planning Creates Good Custom Software Outcomes

A successful customer software project is one that delivers a solution to the objectives, on time, and to budget. That requires good planning from the outset of the project and sound project management throughout the life of the project. Work with your custom software developer and stay focussed on your key objectives. That will ensure that you receive a custom software solution that meets your business needs and provides you with a good return on your investment.

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The Benefits of Web-Based Systems

Web based applications used to be very limited in functionality. However, advances in technology, security, and internet speeds have greatly increased the potential scope of web-based systems.Today, we have web-based business accounting systems, web-based CRM systems, a web-based Microsoft Office, and more. Web-based applications offer some significant advantages over native, client-based software. Here are just some of the benefits of web-based apps for business.

What is a Web Based System?

A web-based system is an application that is accessed via HTTP. The term web-based is usually used to describe applications that run in a web browser. It can, though, also be used to describe applications that have a very small component of the solution loaded on the client PC. The host server for a web-based system could be a local server, or it could be accessed via the internet.

Lower Development Costs

A web-based application runs in a web browser. That means that a single, responsive web application can be used across multiple device types. Although web apps will need to be tested on different browsers, there is no need to test them on different operating systems. This makes development and testing much easier. It cuts development costs and reduces development time.

Easy Installation and Maintenance

Unlike traditional software that is loaded on each device, web applications run from a host server. There is no installation on local machines. Software upgrades are all completed centrally. That reduces the costs of installing and upgrading software. It also ensures that all users are always using the same version of the software.

Accessible Anywhere

Users can access a web-based system anywhere. So long as they have an internet connection, a web browser, and the appropriate login details. This means that users can access the data they need when they are away from the office. It also brings the possibility of staff working from home.

Easy Data Sharing and Collaboration

The sharing of data and collaborating on projects is made much easier with web-based systems. Data is stored in one central location, so users can share data and work together on projects. It is also easier to integrate web-based systems than isolated desktop applications.

Centralized Security

As web apps are installed on web servers, security is controlled by an IT professional. That avoids sensitive corporate information being held on many local client PCs, which are not as secure. Employees can access data when they are away from the office via a web application. So, it is not necessary for data to be held anywhere other than the secure central location.

Reduced Hardware Costs

Web-based systems can eliminate the need for powerful client PCs. Processing is carried out on the host server. The host server can be engineered to efficiently service simultaneous, peak demand. So, the storage, processor, and memory requirements for client PCs can be reduces. Taken across an entire organization, this can represent a large cost saving for some businesses.

Increased Efficiency

In most businesses, the deployment of web-based solutions leads to the streamlining of business processes. Often, paper-based processes can be replaced by workflow-based solutions. The business process improvements can lead to higher employee productivity and lower costs.

Adaptable to Changing Workloads

The deployment of web-based applications requires no software loading on the client PC. All that is needed is the setting up of a new user and the relevant secure access controls. This can be a major benefit for growing businesses, or for seasonal businesses. Users can be added or removed very quickly.

Greater Availability of Information

Web-based systems make it easier to provide access to real-time information. The paper reports that might take days to prepare and distribute can be replaced on online reports and digital dashboards. That can improve the quality and the speed of decision making, right across an organization.

Web based application development can provide businesses with significant cost savings and productivity improvements. Now that internet access is almost universally available and internet speeds have significantly improved, applications that previously had to be client based can now be deployed on the web.

Although this is the case in developed Western countries, it is not the case worldwide. In some countries, internet access is unreliable. So, major deployment of web-based applications may still not be possible. International organizations with overseas offices may not yet be able to take full advantage of web-based solutions.

For domestic organizations, though, web-based systems have a promising future. From web-based office applications, like content management systems and productivity applications, to custom web-based software developed specifically for your organization, the foundation of many future software solutions is likely to be web-based.

When designing a digital presence, whether it is a website, or a mobile app, attractive graphics and engaging content are not the only things that matter. One aspect of web and app design that many designers still overlook is the need for good user experience design. But, what exactly is user experience design (UX Design), and why does it matter so much? Here’s why every business must think about the user experience when they design websites and apps.

What User Experience Design Is

User experience design is often used to describe the usability of an application or the user interface. The true meaning of UX design, though, goes far beyond that. UX design encompasses the entire process of software design and development. It includes branding, functionality, design, integration, and usability. UX designers look beyond simply creating usable products. They also consider the user’s pleasure and enjoyment in acquiring and using the product. UX design is the process of creating applications that are relevant and meaningful. Applications that users want to use. So, how can UX design benefit a business?

UX Design Encourages Use Interaction

Creating content is not enough. You need to create content that people will want to interact with. That includes written content, images, advertisements and calls to action. UX design includes techniques that encourage user interaction. These techniques include producing content that will appeal to the target audience. It also includes personalization features, such as “You may also like” types of functions. A UX designer will also be looking at consistency throughout an app or site. Software that is predictable and comfortable to use is software that people will want to use.

UX Design Generates Loyalty

UX design creates customer loyalty through great experiences. An easy to use app or website backed by great service will encourage a user to use the then again. To do this, a UX designer will create a customer journey map (CJM). This maps a user’s entire journey through the site or app. This journey will be thoroughly tested to ensure that a user’s interaction with the product is as smooth and trouble-free as possible. It’s putting the design team in the shoes of the user.

UX Design Generates Recommendations

Good UX design encourages word of mouth recommendations. The ease of use of a well-designed site or application and the usefulness of it will encourage people to tell others about the product. A part of UX design is to make sharing easy. A free recommendation from a user is far more powerful than a paid for advertisement.

UX Design Reduces Development Costs

UX design keeps a project within budget and reduces development costs. UX design includes extensive user research, prototyping and usability testing. This ensures that development time is targeted on the areas of functionality that matter. This focused approach means better initial design specs, less risk of feature creep, and more relevant content. It greatly recuses the need for last minute redesigns and enhancements.

UX Design Reduces Internal Costs

UX design is end user focussed from the outset. That concentrates design and development effort on what users want, not on what developers think they want. As well as saving money on development costs, UX design stops businesses wasting internal resources. For example, UX design will help identify the products that people want. This would allow sales and marketing efforts to be focussed on the profitable products, rather than the less profitable ones. It also reduces support costs by reducing the need for manual intervention.

UX Design Increases Profits

UX design can have a direct impact on the bottom line. It has been proven that 75% of people judge an app or website on its aesthetic design.People are more likely to buy from a well-designed website or app than they are from an unappealing one.

The easier a site or app is to use; the more people will use it. That is true for the entire journey that a user takes through the app or website. From how fast the screens and pages load, to how easy it is sign up for an account and place an order. If all the steps are easy, a user is more likely to progress to the final step of making a purchase or completing a desired action.

UX design seeks to reduce the number of user interactions to a minimum. It also guides the user through processes with clear calls to action. The overall effect of UX design is increased revenues, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction.

Historically, websites and mobile apps have been developed with the needs of the business in mind. UX design is reversing that trend and putting the needs of the user first. Consumers are becoming more and more experience driven. Global online spending is increasing at a phenomenal rate. Businesses that don’t adopt UX design principals may soon find themselves trailing far behind the competition that do.

In today’s digital world, every business needs a website. Modern business owners and managers understand the need to have a presence on the web. What is surprising, though, is the number of businesses that don’t leverage the power of a blog at all. Or, they have one, but they rarely update it. Here’s a look at what you are missing out on if you don’t make regular use of one.

A Blog Grows and Strengthens a Brand

A blog helps to build and strengthen a brand. Without one, building a brand can be an uphill struggle. It provides you with the opportunity to connect with customers and prospects and allows you to convey the ethos of your business. It also gives you a platform on which you can tell the stories that will create interest in the brand and foster brand loyalty.

It Fosters a Community

Blogs help you build a community around your brand. They can encourage feedback, reviews and comments. When you post relevant and engaging content, the community will grow. As more people subscribe to your blog, you will create a valuable list of people interested in your products, services and your brand.

Blogging Makes you an Authority in Your Sector

A business blog is a platform from which you can build your authority in your sector. You can show that, not only you do you sell products or services, you are also experts in your field. You can post technical articles, tips and advice, and opinion pieces. This will gain the trust of readers.

A Blog Will Boost Your Search Engine Rankings

When you post content, you can target your profitable keywords and improve your position in search engine results. Good quality content posted regularly will make it much easier for people to find your website. Google favors websites that have fresh, relevant content. A website with a blog will always outperform a website without one.

Blogs Allow You to Post Timely Content

Modern content management systems like WordPress or Drupal make posting to a blog a simple task. It is usually something that you can do in-house. That means that you can react fast to industry trends and developments. You can post comments on current events and increase the relevancy of your brand. A blog allows you to demonstrate that you are at the forefront of your industry.

Blogging Breeds Innovation

A hugely beneficial side-effect of producing regular content is that it breeds innovation within your organization. To write blog posts, you will need to keep up date with industry developments. You will need to research competitors and new technologies. The combination of research for new posts and the feedback you get on your blog will help you formulate new ideas for your business.

It Is an Integral Part of a Good Digital Marketing Strategy

A blog is an important part of a coherent digital marketing strategy. It can provide the detailed information that is needed to turn lead into a sale.Blog posts can contain a level of detail that you can’t have in social media posts. You can lead prospective customers from digital advertisements or social media posts, to a re-enforcing blog post, to a call to action at the end of a post.

Your Free Public Relations Platform

You can use a blog for PR purposes. You can announce new products, events or key appointments. Unlike some other PR platforms, you have full control over your this effective means of directly communicating with your audience.

Blogging Generates Leads

People are more likely to subscribe to an informative blog than other types of mailing lists. If you produce useful content on a regular basis, you will soon start to see your mailing list grow. Once you have a list of subscribers, you can send them invitations to corporate events, details of special offers, and company news. Be sure, though, that you don’t overdo it, or you will start to lose subscribers.

A blog can be the foundation of a business’s marketing, PR and brand development. It can also be a very important part of the sales funnel. The business of blogging does, though, need to be taken seriously. The wrong type of content can backfire. If you post engaging content that is relevant to your brand image and the sector you operate in, a blog can indeed be a very powerful business marketing tool.

A content management system (CMS) is software that enables end users to create and manage content on a website. They are designed to make content management easy for non-technical users. One of the key features of a good content management system is that no coding is needed to create or modify content. CMS handles all the basic coding, so users can concentrate on what visitors to the website will see, rather than what goes on behind the scenes.

A content management system consists of two main elements. First, there is the content management application (CMA). The CMA is the part of the application that allows users to add content and manage it. The second element is a content delivery application (CDA). This is the backend application that formats the content and makes it available to visitors to the site.

The Benefits of a Content Management System

The main benefit of a content management system is that it that allows non-technical people to publish content. This dramatically cuts the cost of maintaining a website. You may still employ the services of a web developer to design and set up a site. But, with a CMS system, you will be able to publish and modify content yourself.

The second major advantage of a CMS is that it allows collaboration. Multiple users within an organization can create and publish content. The user interface of a CMS is usually browser based, so any number of users can access the system from anywhere.

Examples of Content Management Systems

One of the most popular content management systems is WordPress, but there are hundreds of other CMS platforms. WordPress is an open source CMS tool that is used by large businesses, small businesses, and individuals. It is estimated that WordPress is the CMS behind more than 30% of the world’s websites. Some of the other popular platforms include Drupal, Joomla and Magento.

Important Things to Consider CMS Platform

While WordPress is popular, it is not the only option. Before you choose a content management system, you should look at what your overall goals are.You will need to think in detail about the functionality that you will need. This will help you choose a CMS platform that is right for your business rather than simply opting for the best-known CMS. Here are some the things to consider when choosing a CMS platform.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is the main thing to look for in a CMS platform. However, some CMS systems cross the line between ease of use and lack of functionality. Make sure that the CMS platform use is intuitive and easy to use. But, remember to make sure that it has sufficient functionality to meet your needs.

Availability and Cost of Add-ins

You can usually add functionality to CMS platforms with modules, which are often called plugins. These are usually made available by third parties. They may, or may not, be free. When you are researching CMS, investigate the availability and the cost of plugins. If the CMS platform you choose only has limited out-of-the-box functionality, then you will be relying on plugins to customize your content management solution to your own needs. Plugins expand functionality, but they can lead to maintenance issues. Because they are written by third parties, they may not always be compatible with your version of the CMS platform.

Look and Feel Flexibility

It is important that your website looks different from all the rest. This can be difficult with some of CMS platforms. If there are only a limited number of themes or templates, and few customization options, it will be difficult to make your website uniquely your own.

Responsive Design

More the half of internet traffic now comes from mobile devices. So, responsive mobile design is essential in a CMS platform. Make sure that the CMS platform you select supports responsive web design. That will ensure that your web pages will render properly across different types of devices.

Speed

Speed is an important consideration in several areas. The first aspect of speed relates to ease of use. How easy will it be to install the software, configure the website, and publish content. The second aspect is the speed that the site will operate. The speed at which web pages are rendered is vital. If a website is slow to load or refresh, visitors will become frustrated and move on to another website.

Integration

The ability to integrate a CMS platform with third party applications can also be very important. You may want to integrate your website with an e-commerce solution, a CRM package, or an automated marketing system. Investigate the availability of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and find out what support there is for integration. Even if you don’t want to integrate your CMS with third party applications now, you may want to in the future.

Scalability

Another factor to consider is how scalable the CMS platform is. Will it handle large spikes in traffic? Can you add resources to cope with increasing traffic? If you plan on having more than one website, does the CMS application offer multi-site support?

Security and Support

You should also check what security features come with the software, and what extra third-party security applications you may have to use. All websites are targets for hackers, but some platforms have much better security features than others. The support services that are available for CMS platforms vary as well. High-end open source applications like WordPress are typically built with sophisticated security mechanisms; but do not provide support service for CMS installation and maintenance, so you may have to use a third-party support service.

To choose the right CMS platform for your business, you will need to assess both your current and future requirements. There are plenty of CMS options, but making the right decision at the outset will save you a lot of time in the future. Content can be migrated from one platform to another, but it can be very time consuming to do so.

It is advisable to seek advice from a company that specializes in digital marketing. If you can, it is also useful to test drive the software before you commit to using it. The decision you make now on a CMS platform could have a major impact on your organization in the future.

With almost 4 million mobile apps available for download on Google Play alone, it can be difficult to see how you can develop a business mobile app that will stand out. However, as adults spend an average of nearly 4 hours a day using them, mobile apps are not something that a modern business can ignore.

There are many aspects of a mobile app that will determine its success. But, if you get the core principles right, it will go a long way towards making your app an app that people want to use. Here are the key features that any mobile app will need if it is to be a success.

Successful Mobile Apps Satisfy a Need

Any type of product needs to satisfy a need. When you are designing a business mobile app, you should not simply copy what your competitors are doing. You should think outside the box and think big. A successful mobile app is one the solves a problem for its users better than any other solution. It is an application that makes a user’s life simpler.

Simplicity

While people are spending more and more time on mobile apps, the amount of time they are willing to spend on any one app is very limited. For that reason, an app must be easy to access and easy to use. Content and functionality needs to be available with the minimum of user interaction. A key design feature of a good mobile app is effortless simplicity.

Customization

Allow the users of your mobile app to customize the app the way they want it. That can be as simple as giving them control over the fonts and the colors. Or, it could be allowing users to save their own favorites. Customization gives the user a sense of ownership. Once they have the app the way that they like it, they will be less willing to switch to using a competitor’s app.

Performance

Speed is of the essence with mobile apps. Mobile app users are often multi-tasking. So, if an app takes too long to load or to perform a function, users will switch off and do something else instead. Performance testing will be part of the development cycle for a mobile app. However, ongoing performance testing will also be needed to ensure that changes to the app do not cause any performance issues.

Develop for Android and iOS

It is important to develop mobile apps for both Android and iOS. These are the two most popular platforms. This can be achieved by developing the app in a cross-platform development framework, like Xamarin. Cross-platform development tools reduce the total cost of development and make your app available to a wider audience.

Social Integration

Social media integration is a must for most types of mobile apps. For simplicity, you can allow users to sign in with Twitter or Facebook. Users love to share their experiences too. So, allow users to share posts or purchases easily. It improves the user experience, and it can be a valuable form of marketing.

Feedback

Make it easy for users to leave feedback. It creates a sense of involvement and it shows that your business listens to its customers. It should be simple for a user to leave reviews and comments. You should also encourage comments about the functionality of the app. It will help you to improve your services and it will help with the future direction of the app.

Security

Recent well-publicized online breaches of confidentiality have made app security even more important. It is a fundamental requirement of any mobile app that users’ private data remains confidential. It is also important that the users know that robust security is in place. So, make sure that the app’s confidentiality statement is easy to locate.

Offline Functionality

It is natural that most apps will require internet connection to work fully. However, there should be some features that will work off-line as well. If an app can offer even limited functionality offline, it could represent a major advantage over competitors.

Upgrades and Support

A business mobile app will need ongoing development and support. That will be both in terms of fixing bugs, and in terms of ongoing software enhancements. An app needs to be kept fresh and relevant. If a mobile app stagnates, users may become bored and switch to a more modern app.

The way that people access the internet is changing. Mobile device access to the internet has already surpassed desktop access. Today, businesses, large and small, need to develop mobile apps if they are going to stay ahead of their competitors. Developing an app for an apps sake, though, will be counterproductive. Mobile apps of the future will need to connect with and engage customers. They will need to be easy to use, relevant, and they will need to fulfil a need.

Along with AI, The Internet of Things is changing the expectations of consumers. It will also change the way that businesses operate. The initial uptake of interconnected smart devices was slower than was forecast. But, the demand for the technology is now developing at a rapid pace. That demand will place new pressures on businesses. It will also provide businesses with new opportunities. Here are some of the ways that the Internet of Things will impact business.

What Is the Internet of Things?

The simple definition of the Internet of Things (IoT) is that it is the interconnection of devices over the internet. It allows devices to communicate with us, with applications, and with other devices. The technology has been demonstrated with the advent of smart home appliances. It’s the Internet of Things that now allows us to control our home heating, lighting, sprinklers and other appliances from our phones with solutions like Apple’s HomeKit.

How Will the Internet of Things Affect Businesses?

The application of the Internet of Things goes far beyond smart refrigerators and toasters though. The integration of devices will soon affect every business. The IoT offers businesses unprecedented opportunities for gathering data and automating process. It also offers businesses the opportunity of developing new products or services. IoT devices will have a major impact on businesses. Even those that do not operate in the technology sector. Here are some of the ways that IoT devices will change the way that businesses operate.

Greater Access to Data

There has already been controversy about smart devices tracking consumer behavior. However, the use of IoT devices to gather data will increase. Smart devices can track how consumers use a product and, with AI, the technology can make product recommendations to consumers. In the future, businesses will have access to far more data than they have today. It will change the way we target advertising, and it will also begin to drive future product development.

Improved Customer Engagement

The same technology that allows consumers to connect to smart devices in the home will allow businesses to monitor those devices as well. In much the same way as a modern car will alert the driver when a system is failing, or the car is due for a service, customer services systems will be notified when home appliances need repairing or replacing. This will enable better customer service and provide new marketing opportunities.

Working Remote

The IoT is likely to increase the number of people working from home. With access to multiple devices in the office and on the factory floor, many more tasks will be able to be completed remotely. Remote workers are often more efficient and more cost effective. So, the IoT could have a beneficial effect on most businesses bottom line.

Increased Productivity

Smart devices will increase productivity in all types of businesses. The enhanced data analyses that will be possible will streamline many tasks. Ultimately, this may lead to a reduction in headcount in some areas of business.

Create New Consumer Demands

As consumers become more familiar with IoT technology, they will begin to demand things that they don’t currently know they want.Smart Refrigerators that create grocery lists, for example, would have seemed pointless ten years ago. In the future, though, it will probably be a standard feature of all refrigerators.

Improved Inventory Tracking, Management, and Security

Tracing inventory and assets has, for a long time, been a major headache for business. The shipping industry already uses high-tech equipment to track and manage the movement of shipping containers. With the IoT, this type of technology will become available for even the smallest assets. This will free up workers from manual tasks like inventory checks. It will also reduce the theft of inventory and assets.

Shorter Buying Cycles

The Internet of Things will also change the way that consumers buy products. The buying cycle is likely to become shorter. The targeted advertising that the IoT will enable will speed up the buying decision making process. Consumers will also expect faster, more convenient service too. From the verbal placing an order through smart devices like Amazon Echo, to receiving the goods the same day. The need for instant gratification will place new demands on businesses. Businesses will need to employ smart technology, so that they can keep up with consumer demands.

The Internet of Things Bottom Line for Business

The increase in the availability of IoT smart technology will transform business. It will provide more intelligent data, more automation, and it will change consumer expectations. From small time saving devices, to major product enhancements, IT is about to become an integral part of the product, rather than an afterthought. Consumers will demand faster and ever smarter devices. They will also demand faster and better services. It’s the smart businesses that invest in IoT technology and custom applications now that will be able to keep pace with these new demands.

Big businesses are forging ahead with artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home are just the tip of the iceberg. AI is appearing in chatbots, smart robots and expert systems. But, is AI something the smaller businesses should be investing in now? Or, is artificial intelligence the sole preserve of big corporations? Here’s why every business should be starting to look at the benefits of AI right now.

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Strictly speaking, AI refers to computer software that can mimic independent thought. True AI, though, is something that is only found today in research labs and science fiction movies. The term AI is currently being used to describe several different technologies. It includes things such as machine learning, speech recognition and natural language generation.

How Is AI Used in Business Now?

Artificial intelligence is already being used in a wide variety of business applications. The application that most people are aware of is that of speech recognition. Especially in personal assistant applications like Siri, Cortana and Alexa. AI is used in many other business applications as well. Banks are beginning to use chatbots to answer consumer inquiries and perform basic banking transactions. AI is behind the robotic automation of warehouses and production lines. Artificial intelligence is also being applied to business intelligence. Walmart, for example, uses SAP’s cloud-based HANA to process and analyze high volume transaction data. Businesses like eBay are using an AI system called Dono to gain insight into customer behavior.

How to Prepare Your Business for AI

Businesses of all sizes need to start thinking now about how artificial intelligence will impact on their sector. It is the early adopters of AI that will reap the rewards. Like all new technologies, AI may have begun life with the major corporations, but it is now becoming more accessible to small businesses. In the future, AI will become more readily available, and it will become cheaper to access. Here are the steps that every business needs to take to prepare for AI

Familiarize Yourself with AI Technology

Now is the time to start learning about AI. Research the existing applications of AI and investigate the expected future applications. Understanding what AI can do now, and what it will do, will start you thinking about how you could apply AI in your business.

Take a Fresh Look at Your Business

Start with a blank piece of paper and look at how AI could give your business a competitive edge. Look at how the technology might be employed to automate repetitive tasks and solve problems. Consider these possibilities in business terms. Define quantifiable outcomes for them, and then measure the potential benefit to your business.

Grow Your Use of AI over Time

Use AI to reduce costs and then reinvest those savings in further uses of the technology. If you have a website that generates a lot of customer inquiries, for example, consider the possibility of using a chatbot to answer them. In some cases, chatbots have reduced costs by 30%. Implementing AI in a gradual fashion will be much less of a risk and it will make the implementation self-funding.

Think About KPIs

Think about the key performance indicators (KPIS) that demonstrate how well your business is operating. Look at how you can optimize those KPIs, one at a time. Data is at the heart of every AI implementation. So, look at how AI can be utilized to improve your critical processes. Start making technology a major part of your future strategy. Artificial intelligence has applications in almost all areas of business. It could, for example, be used for streamlining your HR function, predicting sales trends, or automating manual tasks.

Don’t Let the Fear of Failure Hold You Back

AI is still in its infancy, but it is the businesses that embrace it now that will be the winners. Don’t let the fear of setbacks dissuade you from implementing the technology. If you could revolutionize one critical component of your business, it could put you miles ahead of your competition.

Deploying Your Own Applications

Some people see AI as a threat to jobs. The truth is that, like many other technological advancements of the past, AI will change the how people work. But, it will also create new business and employment opportunities. It is certain, though, that businesses that ignore AI, will do so at their peril. AI can improve how your business operates today. It could also lead to new business opportunities for you tomorrow. Amazon found this with their own AI development. It led them from being a purely eCommerce business to being competitors with Microsoft and Google. Almost anything is possible when you begin to explore the potential of AI.

AI Applications for business already exist. There are intelligent CRM systems, like Einstein AI for SalesForce, AI powered marketing platforms, like Acquisio, and there are chatbots for a variety of business applications. The best software developers are also now building AI into business solutions for their customers. Contact Aezion to discuss your requirements and receive a proposal for developing your own custom artificial intelligence application.